When the song finished, Adam let her go and slightly bowed, walking towards Emma, waving at him. Madie watched them and since she didn’t know anyone else, she rather walked outside and stood next to the carriage. The full moon was bright and together with all sounds of the surrounding forest made her skin shimmer. There was a tall fire at the beginning of the forest, with few figures standing around it and throwing some items into it, while dancing and quietly singing. This scene brought back some memories. She was six years old and her brother just a baby when her grandfather died. He was a great leader and the funeral was rather a celebration than mourning. There were tables loaded with bowls full of roasted meat, bread, wine and mead. An old man wearing a bright red tunic stood in the centre, holding a large ornamented cup in his right hand and recited poems in a surprisingly strong voice. The whole scene was illuminated by tall fires lit all around the main courtyard. His body was laid on a raised wooden platform covered with expensive foreign fabrics, compared to her grandfather’s relatively plain yellow tunic, red trousers and dark brown cloak with delicately ornamented rim. He was wearing two large golden rings and a beautiful brooch formed as a raven, inlaid with bright red garnets. But the most impressive item was his sword laid next to him, in a leather scabbard decorated with thin gold sheets depicting humans and animals. His old face with many scars, short grey hair and beard was strangely vivid in the fire light, reflecting all shades of red and orange. He looked magnificent and content. Madie was standing next to her father and cried, failed to understand how all those people could celebrate his passing.
“Don’t be sad, my little treasure. Our ancestors guide our lives even If you can’t see them.” He smiled and winked.
“But how can they do it when they are laid in the ground or burned to ashes, papa?” she asked, clutching his hand and staring at her grandfather.
“Because they live in their deeds, that’s why the man standing in the centre recites heroic poems. They also live in our hearts, that’s why we are both celebrating and mourning their passing – to remember both joy and sorrow in our lives. And finally, ancestors become a part of the whole world. If you sometimes listen carefully to the sounds of the forest, you can hear their whispers.”
“And what If you will pass away? I want you to stay with me forever.” She sobbed and wiped her tears with his cape.
“Our time is limited, my heart. But I will be with you no matter what happens.” He said, looking at the fire pyre, and for some reason he seemed to look much older. “Those were the words that were passed to me from my mother. And now I passed them to you, my dearest daughter.”
“I wish mum would say something like that to me, instead of the boring lectures about history and behaviour.” Madie frowned. Her father laughed loudly and raised her up to his arms. And although she couldn’t understand the meaning of his words, she knew that they were written in her mind from that moment onwards.
“Hey, little one, you’re all right?”
Madie jumped up and quickly turned around, just to see the familiar face with messy hair.
“No need to be scared, it’s just me.” Adam smiled and leaned at the carriage.
“I’m not scared, but you disturbed my thoughts.” She replied quietly.
“A pretty young girl such as yourself shouldn’t be worried too much. Just enjoy your life while you can.”
“And you? Do you enjoy your life?” she asked, genuinely curious.
“Well, I can’t complain.” he grinned. “I am my own master and no one can force me to do anything.”
“And your family? Do you have wife and children?”
“Wife? And children?! And what I would do with them? Nah, I’m travelling alone as a soldier for hire. A family would be unnecessary burden.”
“Aren’t you lonely?” she asked, thinking about how much she missed her family.
“Not really. You know little one, it’s better to be alone than surrounded with wrong people.”
He replied, closely examining the carriage.
“Hey, I’ve seen this maker’s mark. It belongs to a master from one of those northern kingdoms, doesn’t it? I think it’s the one with dying ruler. I can’t wait for it to happen, for then there will be a war and I can get some extra coins.“ he smiled with confidence and looked at Madie, who was, unlike him, frowning at the mark.
“You are a horrible person to wish death to one of the noblest men ever to live and countless others just to get some coins. If that is what you’re after, here, take this.” She finished angrily and threw a handful of gold coins from her pouch on the ground. He quickly bowed down to collect them and walked away without a single word, leaving her alone in the night.
Inside the inn, Adam quickly found the innkeeper talking to the musicians and grabbed her by the elbow.
“We need to talk. Now.” He whispered to her and took her away from the main hall in the cellar.
“What’s up? I need to be in the hall so they won’t steal the wine.” Emma snapped impatiently.
“You‘re not going to believe who’s your guest. You know that young blond girl that came yesterday with the grumpy old man?” he said quickly.
“Of course I do, the man is a pain but the girl is nice. Do you think they are frauds?”
“In a way. Look at this.” He smiled and showed her gold coins in his hand.
“Did you rob them?! You know I have strict rules about stealing from my guests!” she snapped angrily.
“Calm down Emma. That girl gave them to me. Or, more accurately, threw them on the ground.”
“But... for this money I can buy a new inn!” she exclaimed loudly, examining the coins.
“Exactly. That girl has no idea about their real value, and other things suggest that she’s from a very noble house.” he replied quietly.
“I know you think you’re smarter than me, but even I figured that out.” She frowned, examining one of the coins in a small ribbon of light coming from the main hall through a crack in the door.
“Don’t you get it? She is a noble and these are coins of that ruler that is rumoured to be gravely sick!” he whispered excitedly.
“So why is she on the road? And how exactly is this information to our advantage? I’ve told you no robbing and I’m already charging them triple price for the room.”
“Well, she can have valuable information about the situation and some contacts around courts. There is potential for more of these goldies.”
“You’re still forgetting one little detail: we don’t know If she is his related to the king. From your clues she can be just some noble girl raised on the court.”
“You should’ve seen her reaction when I mention the ruler. She can be a daughter, sister, niece, wife, companion or anything else. But they were definitely close and that’s all we need to know right now.” He said and jingled coins in his right hand.
“Even If that’s true, she must have protection from noble circles and what If someone will plot a revenge? You know I’m always up for some extra coins, but not at this price.” She shook her head and returned the coin.
“Whatever. But then don’t cry when I’ll return as a wealthy man.” He snapped and walked outside. Both of them had no idea that someone else heard the conversation and left the hall before Adam.
Madie was still standing outside and tears were rolling down her face. Her right hand was clutching the pendant she received just few days ago. It was warm and smooth, and something about it was comforting her. Suddenly, a thin stream of golden light blinked between two large oak trees just at the beginning of the large forest. She blinked twice and focused her attention to that place. It happened again, and this time she could swear it was accompanied by a whisper. It sounded like several voices talking at once, almost like a prayer or a charm. Maybe they have some rituals in the forest, and it is a part of the celebration. Madie was curious, but not incautious so she turned around and wanted to get quickly to her room. But the door was blocked by three large figures.
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